Past News Releases

A month since Super Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines, the country is still staggering. The Church of Scientology Mission of Manila immediately activated their Volunteer Ministers to help. They were joined by Volunteer Ministers from abroad who have continued to provide relief to help the country recover.

The Typhoon, known as Yolanda in the Philippines, slammed into the country November 8 with sustained winds as high as 195 mph. More than 5,000 died and the United Nations estimates 1.9 people were forced from their homes. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the storm disrupted the livelihoods of more than 5 million people leaving 2.4 million in need of food.

The Scientology Disaster Response Team, led by veteran Scientology Volunteer Minister Ayal Lindeman of New York and members of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers India Goodwill Tour, is working with government agencies and humanitarian organizations to help with the distribution of food and supplies.

Once they have seen to the physical wellbeing of the survivors, the Volunteer Ministers address their personal needs as well, providing Scientology assists, techniques developed by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard that address the emotional and spiritual factors in trauma, illness and injury. Assists are simple to deliver and learn and the Volunteer Ministers train family members, community leaders and other volunteers in these techniques, making them broadly available.

In creating the Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a Volunteer Minister and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”